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impact of low birth weight
what is the impact of low birth weigh
comorbidities associated with low birth weight
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Low birth weight is a major problem which has a global impact. It is a major public health problem. The birth weight of an infant is the single most important determinant of its chances of survival, healthy growth and development. [2]
Definition of Low Birth Weight:
According to WHO definition it has been defined as weight at birth of less than 2500 gms (5.5 pounds). That was based on the epidemiological observations that infants weighing less than 2500gms are 20 times more likely to die than heavier babies. [ 4]
Causes of low birth weight:
Many factors affect the duration of gestation and of foetal growth, and thus , the birth weight.
• For the same gestational age girls weigh less than boys, First born infants are lighter than subsequent infants, and twins weigh less than singletons.
• Mother’s nutritional status from pregnancy to birth of the child.
• Women with short stature, women living at high altitudes
• Infections like malaria, HIV or syphilis
• Complication such as hypertension.
• Low socio- economic status. [4]
Defining the Costs Associated with Low Birth Weight :
• The components of total cost for low birth weight include the costs of the medical care, special education, early intervention, and other support services consumed disproportionately by low birth weight children.
• Additional costs to the family, such as the extra time that parents of sick low birth weight babies devote to their care, are also components of the cost of low birth weight.
• In a cost-of-illness analysis, the different levels of resources associated with an illness or condition such as low birth weight are identified, quantified, and valued in money terms.
• Once they have been quantified and valued, the v...
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...oper implementation of policies and programmes achievements can be attained
REFERENCES:
1. Lewit ME, Baker LS, Corman H, Shiono HP. Journal Issue: [online journal]. Low Birth Weight. Volume 5, number 1,spring 1995 [ cited on 7th April 2014]
http://futureofchildren.org/publications/journals/article/index.xml?journalid=60&articleid=371§ionid=2487
2. Park K. A Text book of Preventive and social medicine.19th ed.Jabalpur, banarasidas Banot publishers ; 2007; pg: 495
3. http://nrhm.gov.in/search.html?searchword=pip%20karnataka&ordering=newest&searchphrase=all&limit=20 [Cited on 7th April 2014]
4. http://www.childinfo.org/files/low_birthweight_from_EY.pdf
5. http://siteresources.worldbank.org/HEALTHNUTRITIONANDPOPULATION/Resources/281627-1095698140167/Alderman-ReduceLowBirthWeightwhole.pdf [Cited on 7th April 2014]
Length of gestation (i.e., number of weeks in utero) and weight at birth are both related to birth risk. Demonstrate your awareness of key related concepts by discussing the concepts of prematurity, low birth weight, and extremely low birth weight.
Still born weights may be different because they are measured for every 1000 deliveries recorded.
Two-thirds of infants die during the first month of life due to low birth weight (Lia-Hoagberg et al, 1990). One reason for this outcome is primarily due to difficulties in accessing prenatal care. Prenatal health care encompasses the health of women in both pre and post childbearing years and provides the support for a healthy lifestyle for the mother and fetus and/or infant. This form of care plays an important role in the prevention of poor birth outcomes, such as prematurity, low birth weight and infant mortality, where education, risk assessment, treatment of complications, and monitoring of fetus development are vital (McKenzie, Pinger,& Kotecki, 2012). Although every woman is recommended to receive prenatal health care, low-income and disadvantaged minority women do not seek care due to structural and individual barriers.
The nutritional growth of a baby is very important especially for premature babies because she or he must grow at a faster pace than a normal infants does. Premature babies must grow faster so they can meet the mature level they need to meet in a certain amount of time(“Care of the premature infant”). Most premature babies are able to grow and development in a well mannered
According to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, “In the United States, nearly thirteen percent of babies are born preterm, and many of these babies also have a low birth weight.” The baby may be put into the NICU for varies reasons. However, the most common reason that a child is put into the NICU is because he or she is premature. Premature means the baby was born before the 36 weeks. It is never good for a baby to be born early, as this could mean that the baby is not fully developed. There are other factors as to why a child may need to be put into the NICU after birth. For instance, birth defects can be the cause of why a baby is put into the NICU. A baby may be born with an infection such as herpes or chlamydia which can damage the newborns immune system at such a young age. Low blood sugar or hypoglycemia can also cause an infant to be put into the NICU. Some maternal factors of why a baby may be put into the NICU is if the mother is “younger than 16 or older than 40.” If the parent may be an alcoholic or expose the baby to drugs, this can put the child into NICU care. If the parent has an STD or sexual transmitted disease, the baby is most likely going to have to be put into the intensive care unit. “Twins, triplets, and other multiples are often admitted into the NICU, as they tend to be born earlier and s...
have higher rates of low birth weighted need special care right after birth for times as
There are numerous research studies concerned with the factors that determine birth weight.4-10 Factors such as maternal weight gain, smoking, alcohol consumption, gestational age, maternal anthropometry and many other variables have all been the subject of several scientific papers. The World Health Organization defines normal birth weight as 2500 to 4000 grammes. Low birth weight (<2500g) is usually associated with significant infant mortality. 1, 11 Fetal macrosomia (birth weight >4000g)12 has however been shown to have significantly less association with infant mortality in recent years, probably due to medical advances in management of the condition.13
Low birth weight (LBW) has become a public health problem in many regions of the world and it is the predominant cause of infant mortality. According to statistics of World Health Organization, there are about 30 million of low birth weight babies born in the world annually. Low Birth weight can be defined as the birth weight of a new born baby of less than 2.500 Kg regardless their gestational age at birth. This can be seen on both preterm babies as well as mature babies who have slow prenatal growth rate. Infants who are Low Birth Weight are more likely to have both short term and long term severe health consequences.
Hickey, C. A., McNeal, S. F., Menefee, L., & Ivey, S. (1997 October). Prenatal Weight Gain Within Upper and Lower Recommended Ranges: Effect on Birth weight of Black and White Infants. Obstetrician and Gynecology, 90(4).
Asfour, V, and S Bewley. 2011. Cord clamping practice could affect the ratio of placental weight to birth weight and perinatal outcomes. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 118 (12): 1539–40. Retrieved November 8, 2014
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [Office on Women’s Health] (2009), “Babies of mothers who do not get prenatal care are three times more likely to have a low birthweight and five times more likely to die than those born to mothers who do get care” (p. 1). Prenatal care in the U.S. began as a preventive measure against preeclampsia, which at the time included program visits by physicians who conducted physicals, history, and risk assessments. Over the years, prenatal care has changed its focus to low birthweight and other preventive illnesses in an attempt to reduce the rate of infant mortality. Increased use of prenatal care has shown a decline in the rates of birthweight-related mortality and other preventable medical diseases such as post-partum depression and infant injuries.
Low birth weight (LBW) is a term used to describe infants that are born under 2, 500 grams, or less than five pounds eight ounces. This is a disorder that plagues certain races, age groups, and the poor. Seven percent of all infants who are born in the United States are born too small and eleven percent are born too soon ( Behrman). There are many risk factors that put a mother at risk of having a low birth weight baby, as there are many complications early and later in life for the child.
Birth weight of a child is the first and most important indicator of his/her health condition. Birth weight is the first weight of fetus obtained after birth. But this is a final result of long process which is accomplished by maternal nutrition. Unless child is a preterm baby (born before the end of 3rd trimester) he/she should be averagely more than 2,500g of weight to consider as normal (WHO, 2000).This is not only a risk for under developed or developing countries but affecting to developed countries as well. There are numerous factors affecting this adverse situation. In this document it is going to be discussed thoroughly and widely with some logical solutions which should be ideal to introduce immediately. As concerned above this low birth weight (LBW) issue has caused to many health impairments in latter part of the life. This impaired fetal feeding and the resulting intrauterine growth restriction has being caused for infant mortality by 8-17 % of pregnancies in the developed and developing countries (UNICEF, 2003). Though the child was low in weight he/she may bear many health problems inside the body which are shown at the elderly period. To describe the prevalence of this low birth weight all over the world, the table 01 is given below.
During the first year of the infant’s life the most noticeable thing is physical growth. The infants weight is doubled in six months and tripled in a year. During the time of growth not only does the weight and height increase but as well the head and the chest that causes development of the heart, brain, lung and several organs used for survival. The bones of the infant start to harden as well as the skull. By the end of the second year of the infant’s life his/her brain has developed 75% of its adult weight. The growth and size of the baby also depend on its nutritional diet during the mothers pregnancy and during his/hers life, if during the mothers pregnancy she didn’t have a nutritional diet the baby might later have difficulties in his/hers growth and even its ability to understand and process things, if the infant is overfed during the first year or two years this might cause obesity in later years, now if the baby receives a good and nutritional balance of food this should increase growth and size of the infant.